Denbighshire’s proposed budget for 2026-2027

Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet has put forward its proposals for setting its budget for 2026-27.

Every Council is legally required to set a balanced and deliverable budget and to set the level of Council Tax each year.

Councils across the UK are facing significant pressures. Demand for services in our communities continue to rise, and the complexity of needs has increased, particularly in Education, Social Care and Homelessness. The cost of delivering these statutory services has increased well above inflation, driving up the overall requirement for day‑to‑day spending.

For 2026/27, Denbighshire County Council’s cost pressures are forecast to exceed £20m for the fourth consecutive year. While the council receives most of its funding from Welsh Government, supplemented by Council Tax, recent increases in Welsh Government funding—although welcome—do not fully cover these pressures, making a rise in Council Tax unavoidable.

This year, the proposal put forward is a Council Tax increase of 4.76% for council services plus an additional 0.46% to meet the higher levy from the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, resulting in a total propsed increase of 5.22%.

Lead Member for Finance, Councillor Delyth Jones said, “In setting this year’s budget we have tried to keep Council Tax increases as low as possible while still being able to provide the vital services that our residents rely on.

“Most of our budget goes toward schools, education, and supporting adults who need care. We also invest significantly in services for children and people experiencing homelessness. These services protect the most vulnerable people in our communities. Together, these essential services account for 65% of the Council’s total budget.

“That leaves 35% for everything else we do — from inspecting around 720 food businesses each year, to collecting about 73,000 bins and recycling containers from nearly 49,000 households every week.

“We also maintain countryside sites like Loggerheads, Moel Famau and Bodelwyddan Park; protect heritage sites such as Ruthin Gaol, Nantclwyd y Dre and Plas Newydd; provide over 12 million school meals annually; safely transport around 2,870 learners to school; and maintain 11,763 streetlights and 1,419 km of roads across the county.”

Some people will be shielded from the increase through the Council Tax reduction scheme which helps those on low income or those claiming benefits. Residents can find out more about this on Denbighshire’s website on the Council tax reduction scheme page.

The Cabinet meets at 10am on Tuesday, 10 February and the meeting will be broadcast  via the webcast on our website.